Commode



- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB A. HAOKENBERG, OF KIMBERTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMMODE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,738, datedSeptember '7, 1886.

Application filed April 24, 1886.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB A. HAOKEN- BERG, of Kimberton, in the countyof Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Gommodes; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which formpart of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in commodes; and it consists inthe combination of two springs, which are connected at one end to apush-rod, by means of which they are operated, a bag connected to thesprings, and suitable catches, by means of which the different parts areheld in position, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to enable the bag to be opened prior tothe commode being used by merely pushing a rod endwise, and then tocause the bag to close by means of the springs connected to its mouth byreleasing the rod from its catch, and thus shut in all disagreeableodors.

Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections taken through my commode at rightangles to each other. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the commode, the top andseat being removed. Fig. i is a detached view of the springs andpushrods.

A represents the frame of the commode, which is provided with the coverB and seat 0 in the usual manner. The two springs D, which support thebag F, are loosely connected at one end to the push-rod G, but at theother end they are entirely free, so as to allow them to be freelyconnected to and disconnected from the bag. These springs and the bagattached to them are supported at their inner ends by means of a block,H, secured inside of the top of the frame, under the rear edge of theseat, and at their outer edge by the push-rod G, which passes through anotch in the front edge of the frame. In the top edge of the block Hismade a V- Serial No. 200,067. (No model.)

so as to allow the springs to be shaped recess,

outward. The seat 0, when freely opened closed down, prevents the innerends of the springs from becoming displaced, and the push-rod isprevented from becoming displaced by a catch, I, which closes over thenotch, and thus prevents the rod from having any vertical motion, butallows it to freely move endwise. A

"When the commode is about to be used, the push-rod is forced inward,and, as the springs have no endwise motion, in opposite directions, soas to open the mouth of the bag below the opening in the seat. Thepush-rod and springs are held in this position by means of the catch J,pivoted on the front side of the frame A, and which is turned so as tocatch over the outer end of the pushrod,and thus prevent it from beingforced outward by the elasticity of the springs. After the commode hasbeen used it is only necessary to turn, this catch around so as torelease the push-rod, and then the springs at once snap together, so asto close the mouth of the bag. The push-rod extends directly from thefront side of the frame A, so as to be enough in the way of the personsabout to use the commode to attract attention, and thus prevent themfrom forgetting to operate it, in order to first open the mouth of thebag.

The bag is to be made of rubber or any other suitable water proofmaterial which will answer for the purpose, and has its upper edgesturned over and secured to the sides of the bag, leaving a sufficientspace for the springs to be passed freely through, in order that the bagmay be removed at any time to be emptied and then returned to position.

Instead of having the bag made of rubber or other material which can beused constantly, paper bags which have been made water-proof by oilingmay be used. These paper bags will then be used only once, and thenthrown away and at once replaced by a new one.

Having thus described my invention, I

' claimthey bend outward 6o springs connected together at one end, thebag connected to the springs, substantially as push-rod, and the bagwhich is applied to the set forth. 10 springs, substantially as shown.In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 2. In a' commode, thecombination of the presence of two Witnesses. 5 two springs, a push-rodconnected to both of JACOB A. HAOKENBERG.

the springs at one end, a recessed support for Vitnesses: the free endsof the springs, a catch to hold JEFFERSON A. ARCHER, the springs in anexpanded position, and the S. D. HUNTER.

